Coronita vs Corona: It’s a Mexican Beer Standoff!

by Dane Wilson | Last Updated: October 7, 2021

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Few people exist in the world who don’t know about the Mexican beer called Corona. When Corona was first released in the United States in 1981, it was an instant hit. The beer has become the fastest growing brand in American history, and it’s also one of the best-selling beers around the world. But what about the Coronita? Is it the same thing? Is there any difference between Coronita vs Corona beer?

Let’s find out.

Table of Contents

• What is Corona Extra?
• This History of Corona
• What About The Lime?
• What is Coronita Cerveza?
• Corona vs Coronita: Taste and Experience
• What is a Coronarita or Bulldog Margarita?
  • Coronarita / Bulldog Margarita Recipe
    • Directions
• Wrapping Up
• Frequently Asked Questions

What is Corona Extra?

What most people call a Corona beer is actually named Corona Extra, and it is a pale lager packaged in a bottle. Corona is light amber in color and has a flavor that is unlike most mass-produced beers. Corona is similar to many beers in that it contains malted barley, yeast, hops, and water. The aroma is fruity, and the taste contains some malt. Overall, Corona Extra is crisp, light, and balanced.

The beer has about 4.6% ABV, making it fairly light and pleasant for beginning to seasoned beer drinkers.

This History of Corona

Grupo Modelo, a Mexican brand, first brewed up Corona Extra in 1925. As mentioned earlier, Corona was shipped into the US around 1981, and the beer has maintained its best-selling title for many years. Currently, Grupo Modelo produces Corona Extra (as well as Corona Light and Coronita), but it is owned by AB InBev, a Belgian drink company.

There have been some ups and downs for Corona beer, but over the years the technologies surrounding the recipe have improved. Therefore, the beer tastes a lot better than it did when it first hit the international market. Now, Corona is sold in over 150 countries.

What About The Lime?

Kind of like the worm in mezcal or the orange slice in a Blue Moon, no one really knows why lime and Corona are paired like bread and butter. It just is. Does the lime really make Corona Extra, Corona Light, or a Coronita taste better? At most, it’s a marketing ploy. However, there are a few viable reasons. Some believe that the lime was originally used to combat the skunkiness of the beer after it was exposed to sunlight. Others might tell you it was used to plug up the bottle neck to keep flies out in between gulps.

What is Coronita Cerveza?

According to Grupo Modelo, a Coronita is the younger brother of Corona Extra and has the “same refreshing taste, just in a smaller 210ml (7 fl oz).” Coronita technically means “little crown.” The main difference between Coronita vs Corona is that Coronita is smaller in size. A Corona Extra is 330 ml.

Here is a fun fact for you: Corona beer is served around the world, but you won’t find it in Spain. You will only be able to purchase Coronita beer, which is more or less the same thing. Turns out, there was already a brand of Spanish wine called “Coronas,” which made selling Corona beer difficult.

Corona vs Coronita: Taste and Experience

As the brewer has told us, Corona and Coronita are the same thing. The first comes in a larger bottle, but the flavor is the same—crisp, subtle malt, and an overall light taste. Both Corona Extra and Coronita are gentle enough to the palate that the brew pairs well with surf and turf meals, as well as typical bar snacks, like roasted peanuts.

What is a Coronarita or Bulldog Margarita?

Oftentimes, you might hear people called Coronita a Coronarita, which is actually a drink in and of itself. You might see the Coronarita called a Bulldog Margarita or a Bottoms Up Marg depending on where you are, but the ingredients and outrageous presentation are usually the same.

When you first see a Bulldog Margarita, you might be a little taken aback by the bottom-up bottle of Coronita that seems to stand precariously among your alcoholic beverage. But this impressive drink is all about surprises. Like, for instance, how does the beer not seep out of the bottle and into the margarita?

Well, that’s because the Coronarita is frozen, so just enough beer seeps out when the bottle is overturned. It’s not enough to affect the drink, though. You can choose to release the beer into the margarita, creating an enticingly fizzy and delectable drink.

And no, you can’t use a regular Corona. The bottle is too big and heavy; all the beer would overwhelm the frozen margarita, too.

Want to know how to make a Bottoms Up Margarita? Here’s the recipe:

Coronarita / Bulldog Margarita Recipe

4 servings

Ingredients:

• 4 cups ice
• 2/3 cup lime juice
• 4 tbsp sugar
• 4 Coronitas (7 oz each)
• 1 cup tequila
• ¼ cup Cointreau, Grand Marnier, or another orange liqueur
• Coarse salt for the rim of the glass
• Skewers for fruit to garnish the glass (we recommend orange, kiwi, and pineapple, but you can get fancy)

Directions

1. In a blender, combine ice, tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, and sugar. Pulse to mix.
2. Put the salt on a shallow plate or saucer. Dip the rim of the margarita glasses into some lime juice then apply the salt.
3. Fill the glasses with your base mixture. Remove the caps from your Coronita bottles. Quickly flip the bottles into the frozen margaritas. Some beer might flow into the cup, but as soon as the neck has sunk into the slush, the beer won’t run out.
4. Make your fruit skewer, garnish, serve, and enjoy!

Wrapping Up

If you have been wondering if there is any difference between Corona Extra and Coronita, you will be happy to know that both contain the same beer. Coronita is a smaller bottle, but the recipe and flavor remains the same as the standard sized Corona. If you want to drink less beer or make something like a Bulldog Margarita, the Coronita is an excellent option.

Which one do you prefer?

Frequently Asked Questions